create a home for happy kids and pets

About Me

I have three cats, four dogs and three kids that I focus all of my time and attention on. Because I want to dedicate my life to making all of my family happy, comfortable and entertained, I have worked with a contractor to make some changes and improvements to my home. We have created some very fun indoor places to hang out when the weather is bad and included several outdoor elements to get out in the fresh air during the summer. Visit my blog to learn more about creating a home that is perfect for raising happy children and pets.

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3 Main Types of Exterior Doors

Exterior doors are an extremely important part of your home, providing an aesthetic element while also controlling the entrance and exit points. There are several different types of exterior doors available, each of which is made out of a different material with a distinct set of advantages and drawbacks. Understanding what each variant of exterior door has to offer your home can help you choose the best one for your needs.

Wood

Wood doors provide a classic aesthetic to your home. They are available in many different types of wood and can be easily stained or painted, which means that you can customize the appearance of your door to your exact specifications. Additionally, wooden exterior doors come in varying thicknesses, which means that you can choose a thicker door to improve security and insulation. However, wood doors need more maintenance when compared to other types of exterior doors, as they are susceptible to rotting and warping if they are not regularly stained, finished, or painted. This drives up long-term maintenance costs.

Steel

Steel exterior doors are extremely durable and can withstand a great deal of wear, tear, and physical abuse without breaking or denting. Additionally, steel exterior doors are immune to rotting and warping due to weather and water exposure. Certain models of steel doors are made to imitate the texture and appearance of wooden doors, which allows you to keep the natural aesthetic of wood if you so wish. However, steel doors still need to be painted to protect them from rusting, which can occur over time, especially in coastal areas. Furthermore, the durability of steel doors comes at the price of an extremely heavy weight, which makes the installation process of steel doors more complicated and thus more expensive and time consuming.

Fiberglass

Fiberglass exterior doors are designed to overcome the vulnerabilities of both wood and steel doors. They are immune to water damage, will not rot, warp, or rust, and do not need to be stained or painted regularly to protect their underlying material. They can be easily painted, just like wooden doors, which means that you can customize the appearance of your doors extremely easily. Furthermore, fiberglass doors tend to be lighter than steel doors, making the installation process simpler. However, fiberglass doors do not provide the same level of durability and thus security as other types of exterior doors do, which means that they are not the ideal choice when home security is a major concern.